Our strategy for sustainable growth

Unilever has been a purpose-driven company from its origins. Today, our purpose is simple but clear – to make sustainable living commonplace.

We are living in an increasingly uncertain and volatile world. Temperatures are rising, droughts are more frequent, food supplies are increasingly scarce, the gap between rich and poor is growing and billions still do not have access to basic hygiene and sanitation. These challenges are compounded as the global population continues to expand.

Every day, 2.5 billion people use our products. We see first-hand how people the world over are already affected by these changes which pose new challenges for us: fluctuating commodity prices, unstable markets and a shortage of sustainable raw materials. Business as usual is no longer an option.

With change though, comes opportunity. The Business & Sustainable Development Commission, co-founded by Unilever, concluded that successful delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – which seek to tackle 17 of world’s most urgent challenges – will create market opportunities of at least $12 trillion a year.

Businesses that thrive in the future will be those that serve society today. That’s why, in 2010, we launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan – our blueprint for sustainable growth. The Plan is helping us to drive more profitable growth for our brands, save costs, mitigate risk and build trust among our stakeholders.

We know that the biggest challenges facing the world cannot be addressed by one company alone. So we’re also working to help transform the system in which business is done. By being part of the solution to challenges, businesses have the opportunity to win the trust of consumers while helping create societies and economies in which they can grow and succeed.